Kinshasa: Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have recorded a death from Ebola in a province not previously affected by the current outbreak, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said Thursday. The death brings the total to six provinces affected.

According to Anadolu Agency, the case involves a patient who died in Bas-Uele's capital, Buta, after developing haemorrhagic symptoms consistent with Ebola. Jean Kaseya, the director general of African CDC, stated at a virtual news conference from Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, that the patient had traveled from Haut-Uele province, which was already affected, to Bas-Uele province, where he passed it on. With this development, the Democratic Republic of Congo now has a sixth province affected.

The latest situation update report showed confirmed cases have reached 4,449, including 2,061 deaths since the outbreak was declared in May. Officials noted that the latest victim, a motorcycle taxi driver, visited several health facilities before his death, raising concerns that he could have infected multiple individuals.

Kaseya expressed concern that the epidemic is not under control and that its expansion is not contained, with more than 63% of deaths occurring in communities instead of treatment centers. The epidemic had until recently affected five provinces, including Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tshopo.

Ituri remains the epicenter of the epidemic caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, with continued transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated Wednesday that the outbreak in Congo is "on track to eclipse" the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic at its current pace. The outbreak is already the second-biggest Ebola epidemic on record and is spreading faster than any previous outbreak, according to WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.